A sun dog or sundog (scientific name parhelion, plural parhelia, for “beside the sun”) is a common bright circular spot on a solar halo. It is an atmospheric optical phenomenon primarily associated with the reflection or refraction of sunlight by small ice crystals making up cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. Often, two sun dogs can be seen (one on each side of the sun) simultaneously. — from Wikipedia’s “Sun Dog” article.
Spotted this evening on a bike ride around the airport. The sun is off the left side of the photo, and there was a second sundog to the left of the sun. Parhelia aren’t that rare, but they’re uncommon enough to be a cool sighting. This is why I carry my camera with me all the time — and why I have a camera small enough to carry all the time.
